BOYS OF THE BIBLE. 16

that the young people would weary him with their noise and
play, he was very apt to quote those happy lines of N. P.
Willis:
“T love to look on a scene like this
Of wild and careless play,

To persuade myself that I am not old,
And my locks are not yet gray.

For it stirs the blood in an old man’s heart,
And it makes his pulses fly,

To catch the thrill of a happy voice,
And the light of a pleasant eye.

Play on, play on; I am with you there,
In the midst of your merry ring,

I can feel the thrill of the daring jump
And the rush of the breathless swing.

I am willing to die when my time shall come,
And I shall be glad to go;

For the world at best is a weary place,
And my pulse is getting low.

But the grave is dark, and the heart will fail
In treading its gloomy way;

And it wiles my heart from it dreariness
To see the young so gay.”

So you may be very sure that the sudden presence of Dr.
Sutton amongst the boys was not unwelcome, though it was
just a little startling.

‘Good morning, Doctor,” said the boys with one accord,
as they looked up from their solemn conclave, for they were
as serious and earnest about this birthday party as though
they were making laws for a State.

‘“Good morning, boys,” responded the venerable gentle-
man, “I should just like to know what mischief you are
plotting. I’m sure there is something in the wind. Are you
planning to go out and fight the Indians, or has some one
fallen under your righteous displeasure? Just before a storm